Study on suitability assessment of waterbird habitats along Jiangsu coastal wetland of China

The coastal area of Jiangsu is located in the middle section of the migratory route for birds between "East Asia and Australia." It features vast natural mudflats, serving as an important "rest stop" for migratory birds, with hundreds of species and over ten million migratory birds stopping or wintering here each year. The more than 900 kilometers of coastline presents a diverse landscape, including wind farms, photovoltaic installations, fishing ports, and areas invaded by Spartina alterniflora . This diverse land use creates potential conflicts between bird habitat selection and human activities. This study integrates 11 environmental factors, including estuaries, fishing ports, wind power, photovoltaics, Spartina alterniflora , climatic conditions, and vegetation normalized difference indices, to comprehensively analyze the suitability of habitats for migratory waterbirds along the Jiangsu coast. According to species distribution models, the environmental factor that most significantly affects the habitat suitability for migratory waterbirds is Spartina alterniflora , followed by the distribution of fisheries, chemical plants, and estuaries. The main suitable distribution areas for migratory waterbirds in Jiangsu's coastal region are located in the Yancheng Rare Bird Protection Zone, Dongtai Tiaozi Mud Wetland, Lianyungang Linhong Estuary, Rudong Xiaoyangkou, and Dongling. In the context of the ongoing reduction and degradation of natural wetlands, the findings provide a scientific basis for the creation, restoration, and management of artificial habitats for coastal waterbirds.